Closure lock and operator



Nov. 3, 1942. M. NUS BAUM 2,301,074

CLOSURE LOCK AND OfERATOR Filed Sept. 3, 1940 1 66 i 64 49 I I 44,

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Patented Nov. 3, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,301,074 CLOSURE LOCK AND OPERATOR Mortimer Nusbaum, Youngstown, Ohio Application September 3, 1940, Serial No. 355,119

16 Claims.

This invention relates to a combined closure operator and lock and more particularly to improved features of construction of a closure cap which is especially suited to close and seal off the filling pipe of a motor vehicle fuel tank and which is provided with self-contained means to effectively prevent unauthorized removal of the cap from the tank or pipe. A primary object of the invention is the provision, in a cap of the kind mentioned, of a combination or permutation lock which is operative to perform the stated function without the use of keys or other ancillary equipment whereby the convenience of the article is enhanced.

A more specific object of the invention is the provision, in a closure cap for fuel tanks and the like and having a combination lock incorporated therein, of an arrangement whereby the interlock between the hand grip portion of the cap and that portion of the cap which is adapted to engage a part of the filling pipe or tank may be either automatically effected or readily effected by manipulation of the lock actuating dial or knob upon reaching the required alignment of the relatively moving members or tumblers of the combination lock. This results in substantial simplification of the operation of the apparatus and eliminates the use of the conventional bolt actuator normally associated with permutation locks. This advantageous feature is accomplished in accordance with the invention by providing an interlocking bolt or member between the first and second portions mentioned above, which member is adapted to be moved into operative position either upon moving the lock operating knob or dial axially upon completion of the tumbler setting or automatically upon comple tion of the setting or, in certain instances, upon relative rotation of the first and second mentioned portions after completion of the tumbler setting.

Another object of the invention is the provision in a closure cap for fuel tanks and the like and having a combination lock incorporated therein of improved features of construction whereby the cap with its locking feature will be substantially automatic in its operation. To this end it is contemplated that the apparatus may be so constructed that when the lock is in effect the exposed or hand grip portion will be freely rotatable without rotating the portion thereof engaging the tank of the filler pipe while all that is required to efiect the interlock between the portions is manipulation of the lock knob or dial and, in certain modifications, this may consist simply of the required sequential rotation to right and left to effect alignment of the tumblers of the lock. The cap may now be readily removed and upon reapplication of the cap to the tank or filling pipe the cap may be securely fastenedto the same by reason of the interlock and simultaneously with such operation the two-way interlock may be withdrawn and the tumblers of the combination lock reset, the operation of the entire mechanism being such that it is now impossible to unscrew the cap until the sequential rotation of the lock dial or knob is again effected. To this end the interlock may be of such char-- acter that it is always operative to screw the cap on but is only operative to screw the cap off when the tumblers of the lock are aligned, the interlock having provisions to automatically release and reset the lock as the cap is being screwed on to the tank or pipe. As a modification the interlock may be normally inoperative in either direction of rotation of the parts until the lock tumblers are aligned, at which time a positive un screwing engagement may be effected and a yielding engagement for rotation in the opposite -direction provided. Thus the" cap, upon alignment with the tumblers, may be taken oil and later reapplied and upon the attainment of a predetermined pressure in putting the cap on the interlock will automatically throw out and the lock reset.

The invention also contemplates the broad object of incorporating a lock in a closure cap which may be used in exposed portions, as for example on the filling pipe of a motor vehicle fuel tank, which incorporation may be accomplished without the necessity of having any pockets or holes in the upper surface of the cap in which moisture may collect and freeze and thus interfere with the operation of the lock and cap.

The invention also contemplates the further broad object of incorporating a lock in a closure cap, the unlocking of which may be readily accomplished by the use of but one hand of the operator. Heretofore such caps have generally been key actuated and a certain definite alignment of the relatively movable parts was required to allow operation of the look. This necessitated a considerable amount of manipulation between a cap part and the fixed filling pipe which ren ders the use of the locking cap inconvenient. In the applicants invention the lock itself can always be moved to unlocking condition and the interlock above described may be always effected simply upon rotation in theunlocking direction of the cap.

The invention further consists in certain features of construction, combination of parts, and arrangement of elements all of which will be hereinafter fully disclosed.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed specification and the accompanying drawing wherein there are specifically disclosed certain preferred embodiments of the invention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a transverse sectional View of a locking cap suitable for use with the filling pipe of a motor vehicle fuel tank which cap is constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a horizontal section through the cap of Figure 1, the view being taken generally along the line 11-11 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side view of a bolt employed in the cap of Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 is a plan view of one of the locking tumblers of the cap of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a horizontal section of a portion of a modified form of locking cap; and

Figure 6 is a side view of the interlocking bolt used in the modification of Figure 5.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 through 4, the resilient arms 42 and the gasket I4 are both carried by a single member 43 which is rotatable with respect to the visible and engageable portion of the assembly which is the body member 44. Member 43 which is cup-like and. preferably a die casting is provided with diametrically opposed slots 45 which are adapted to receive the plates 46, the latter having concaved inner surfaces to fit within an annular groove 41 in the outer surface of the cylindrical flange 48 which is rigidly carried with the cap body 44 by means of the screws 49, for example. Means, not shown, is provided to retain the plates 46 in position and it should be apparent that the arrangement allows relative and free rotation between members 43 and 44 while preventing relative axial movement thereof,

The upper end of member 43 is provided with one or more inwardly directed lugs 55 which are adapted to cooperate with a spring pressed latch 5| slidably mounted for radial movement in a guide 52 carried with the flange 4B. Counterclockwise of each of the lugs 55 and in a plane below the lugs is a spring pressed latch 53 also carried by member 43 and normally biased to radial inner position. The latch or latches 53 may assume a number of different forms and the drawing, particularly Figure 2, are intended merely as a schematic representation.

Extending chordially of the assembly and arranged for longitudinal oscillation in guide surfaces carried by the upper end of the flange 48 is a bolt 55 which is shown in plan in Figure 2 and in elevation in Figure 3. It should be noted that the bolt is stepped to provide a shoulder 56 which is adapted to move into and out of the radial inward path of travel of the latch 5| and if the bolt is in outward position, as shown in Figure 2, the shoulder 55 prevents the inward movement of the latch 5!. Bolt 55 is provided with a downwardly extending pin 51 which is adapted to move into the notches or recesses 59 of the lock tumblers 65, 6| and 62. The latter are arranged within the flange 48, the first tumbler 60 being carried by a hollow shaft 63 extending up through the central bore 54 of the body 44 with a knurled knob 65 secured to the upper end thereof. A graduated disk 65 is carried with the knob 65 and is adapted to cooperate with a mark (not shown) on the body 44.

In accordance with usual practice, the tumblers 6 I-62 are adapted to be sequentially driven by the knob 65 through interengaging projections on the tumblers and a controlled alternate left and right rotation of the knob is required to align the recesses 59 in each of the tumblers. Relatively non-rotatable spacing washers 5'! are interposed between the tumblers and a reset arm 68 is in friction engagement with the lower surface of the third tumbler 62, a coil spring 69 holding the parts of the lock together and maintaining the arm 68 in resilient engagement with the third tumbler 52.

Latch 51 is biased to outer position by a spring '10 (Figure 1) and a second spring ll (Figure 2) is arranged to engage either the bolt 55 or its attached pin 51 to bias the bolt and pin to outer position, as shown in Figure 2 of the drawing. Also depending from the bolt 55 is a second pin 13 which is adapted to engage in a slot 14 in the reset arm 68. It should be apparent that by reason of the offset in the bolt 55 the outer end of the bolt is in a plane lower than the lugs 50 and in the operation of the device the outer end of the bolt will not engage such lugs. This outer end, however, will engage the spring biased latch or latches 53.

The operation of the above embodiment is as follows:

Assuming the parts to be in their relative positions, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, which positions they would be in in removing the cap from the tank filling pipe or neck, it should be apparent that, if the body 44 is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction, the latch 51 will engage one of the lugs 50 and, as the latch 5| is prevented from retracting by means of the shoul der 55, the resilient arms 42 and the gasket I4 will be rotated along with the body 44 and the whole assembly removed from the tank. If, now, the cap is reapplied to the filling pipe or neck of the fuel tank as soon as arms 42 begin to tighten up the inclined surface at the outer end of bolt 55 will engage one of the latches 53 and the bolt 55 will thereupon be forced inwardly, the spring biasing the latch 53 being sufficient for this purpose. As the bolt is retracted the pin 57 is moved out of the notches 59 of the lock tumblers and the pin 13 through'the clutch member 68 rotates the lower tumbler 52 a sufiicient amount to prevent the re-entry of pin 51 into the notch 59 of tumbler 52 and at the same time destroys the setting of this lower tumbler. This result is brought about by designing the recesses 59 and 14 somewhat in Figure 4 of the drawing and in locating the pins 51 and 13 with respect to the center of rotation of the tumblers, as shown in Figure 2. Retraction of bolt 55 therefore resets the lock and further clockwise rotation of the cap 44 brings latch 5| into engagement with one of the lugs 50 and enables the cap to be tightly screwed onto the filling pipe or neck of the fuel tank. By reason of the cam surface on the latch 5|, if the cap is now rotated in a counter-clockwise direction, the latch will simply override the lugs 50 thereby preventing the unscrewing of the arms 42 and the unauthorized removal of the cap. In other words, the cap can be put on but such operation accomplishes the automatic resetting of the look but it can not thereafter be unauthorizedly removed. To remove the cap knob 65 must be first properly manipulated according to a predetermined combination and when this is effected the notches 59 will be aligned, allowing the spring 1| to move the bolt outwardly, thereby blocking off the retracting path of travel of the latch 5|. If we assume that the bolt 55 moves outwardly to position just counter-clockwise of one of the lugs 58 when the combination is effected, rotation of cap 44 in a clockwise direction, as would be required in removing the cap, will cause the outer end of the bolt to engage the latch 53 and move the latch to retracted position, the bolt is not moved during such rotation and the shoulder 58 remains behind the latch 5|.

Figures 5 and 6 illustrate a slight modification of the embodiment of the invention specifically described above, In this modification the bolt, indicated by reference numeral 80, is by itself operative to both interlock the engageable exterior portion of the cap and the locking arms 42 whereby the cap may be secured to and removed from the fuel tank and to withdraw the interlock and reset the lower tumbler of the combination lock. To this end the bolt 80 is provided with a cammed outer surface 8| which is adapted to cooperate with a cam surface 82 on each of the lugs 83 employed. The lugs 83 correspond in general to the lugs 50 of the second form, being carried by the member 4311 corresponding in general to the member 43 of the first form. Cylindrical member 48a is, of course, carried by the main engageable body of the cap and by means explained above members 48a and 43a are relatively rotatable but not relatively axially movable, Bolt 80 is guided in recesses formed in member 48a and is spring biased to outer position by the spring 1|.

As in the first embodiment, bolt 88 is provided with a depending pin 51 to engage in the recesses 59 of the lock tumblers 6082 and is further provided with the reset pin 13 which is adapted to engage in a slot 14 formed in the reset clutch arm 68. The operation of the presently described modification is as follows:

With the parts in the position shown in Figure 5, counter-clockwise rotation of the outer cap body and consequently of the sleeve 4811 will cause the outer end of bolt 88 to engage one of the lugs 83 thereby causing member 43a with its attached locking arms 42 to rotate, thereby enabling the cap to be removed from the tank. As the cap is reapplied to the tank, clockwise rotation of the main cap body will move cam surface 8| into engagement with cam surface 82 of one of the lugs 83 and this will cause the whole assembly to rotate in a clockwise direction and the arms 42 to be securely fastened to the filling pipe or neck of the tank. Now a slightly higher pressure applied to the cap body will cause bolt 80 to move inwardly withdrawing pin 51 from notches 59 and resetting the lower tumbler through 13, 14 and 68. Rotation of the lower tumbler 62 by reset clutch 68 prevents reentry of pin 51 into the recess 59 of the lower tumbler and the bolt is accordingly maintained in retracted position. The main body of the cap member and at least all of the exposed portions thereof are now free to rotate with respect to the member 43a and the locking arms 42 and the cap can not be removed from the tank unless and until the combination of the lock is effected by the proper manipulation of the knob 65. Spring H and cam surfaces 8|, 82 are so designed that sufficient tightening force may be applied before the bolt 80 is thrown out.

Assuming that the bolt 80 is in retracted position by reason of the pin 5! resting against the outer edge of certain of the tumblers, proper manipulation of the knob 65 will align the notches 59 and the spring 1| is then operative to urge the bolt outwardly. If the bolt moves against one of the lugs 83, a slight rotation of the cap body will readily free the same and enable it to move outward to operative position.

- It should now be apparent that I have provided an improved combined closure operator and lock which fully accomplishes each of the objects initially set out. The combined apparatus makes apleasing appearance and possesses utility to a high degree in that no keys are required for its operation, it is simple and fool-proof in operation and possesses the further advantage of not having any holes or depressions in which water or moisture may collect and by freezing prevent the operation of the lock.

The above specifically described embodiments of the invention should be considered as illustrative only as obviously many changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Reference should accordingly behad to the appended claims in determining the scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

11 A closure cap for a fuel tank and the like comprising relatively rotatable members the first of 'which is exposed to manipulation and the second of which is normally inaccessible when the cap is applied to the tank or filling pipe or neck, an arm carried by said second member and adapted to cooperate with a cam surface on said tank,

' pipe or neck to secure said cap thereto, means to interlock said first and second member whereby rotation of said first member will result in rotationof said second member comprising a permutation lock and a member movable upon the combination of said lock being effected, and a rotatable knob accessible from the exterior of said first member to effect the combination of the lock.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 further characterized in that said third mentioned member is spring biased to operative position, and means automatically responsive to relative movement in one direction between said first and second members to move said third member to inoperative position.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 further characterized in that said third mentioned member is spring biased to operative position, and means automatically responsive to relative movement in one direction between said first and sec ond members to first insure rotation of said second member and thereafter to move said third member to inoperative position.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 further characterized in that said third member comprises a slidable bolt, a pin carried with said bolt to enter the notches in said tumblers upon their alignment, a reset arm resiliently engaging the last of said tumblers and adapted to rotate the same upon actuation thereof, and a second pin carried by said bolt to engage said reset arm and thereby rotate said last tumbler upon movement of said bolt to inoperative position.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 further characterized in that said third member comprises a slidable boltspring biased to operative position, and means carried with said second member to move said bolt to inoperative position upon relative movement between said first and second members. I

6. A closure cap for a fuel tank and the like comprising relatively rotatable members the first of which'is exposed to manipulation and the second of which is normally inaccessible when the cap is applied to the tank or filling pipe or neck, an arm carried by said second member and adapted to cooperate with a cam surface on said tank, pipe or neck to secure said cap thereto, means to interlock said first and second members whereby rotation of said first member will result in rotation of said second member comprising a permutation lock having a rotatable operating knob accessible from the exterior of said first mentioned member and a member automatically movable upon the combination of said lock being effected by manipulation of said operating knob.

'7. A closure cap for a fuel tank and the like comprising a rotatable outer cap, a locking element adapted to be inserted in the neck of the filling pipe for said fuel tank and the like, means providing a swivel connection between said locking element and said outer cap, means to control relative rotation in one direction between said element and cap, said last mentioned means comprising a permutation lock housed in the body of said outer cap, an operating knob for said lock positioned on the exterior of said outer cap, and means movable upon the combination of said. lock being effected upon manipulation of said knob to provide said control.

8. A closure cap for a fuel tank and the like comprising a body member having a dependent peripheral flange to provide a hand grip portion and means to prevent access to the space within said body when the cap is applied to the fuel tank and the like, a pair of radially extending arms carried by said body member centrally of said flange and adapted to engage an inturned cammed flange on the filling pipe or neck of said tank and the like, said body member providing means to rotate said arms, means to prevent rotation of said arms in one direction when the same are engaged with said flange, said last mentioned means comprising a permutation lock housed within said body member and having an operating knob accessible from the exterior of said body member, said last mentioned means including an element movable upon the combination of said lock being effected by manipulation of said knob.

9. A closure cap for a fuel tank and the like comprising a body member having a depending peripheral flange to provide a hand grip portion, a pair of radially extending arms carried by said body member centrally of said flange and adapted to engage an inturned cammed flange on the filling pipe or neck or said tank and the like, said body member providing a manually engageable operator for said arms, means to prevent counter-clockwise rotation of said arms by said body member when said arms are in engagement with said cammed flange, said last mentioned means comprising a permutation lock housed within said body member and provided with an operating shaft extending centrally outward of said body member, a knob overlying the central portion of said body member and secured to said shaft, said last mentioned means including an interlocking element which is moved automatically upon the combination of said lock being effected by manipulation of said knob.

10. A closure cap for a fuel tank and the like comprising a body member having a depending peripheral flange to provide a hand grip portion and means to prevent access to the space within said body when the cap is applied to the fuel tank and the like, said body member being provided with an inner tubular portion concentric with said flange, a sleeve swiveled on said tubular portion for rotation about the longitudinal axis of said flange, said sleeve having a radially extending arm carried adjacent its lower end and adapted to engage an inturned cammed flange of the fuel tank filling pipe and the like, a gasket carried by said tubular portion above said arm to engage the top of said pipe and the like, a bolt slidably mounted in said tubular portion and adapted to extend outwardly thereof, a lug carried by said sleeve for engagement by said bolt,

means to move said bolt to outer lug engaging position, means opposing such movement comprising a plurality of tumblers of a permutation lock, means to align said tumblers thus removing said opposition comprising a knob and dial positioned on the exterior of said body member, and means to move said bolt in the other direction comprising interengaging cam surfaces on said lug and bolt.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10 further including means to rotate one of said tumblers upon movement of said bolt in said other direction whereby said lock will be automatically reset upon relative rotation in one direction between said body member and sleeve.

12. A closure cap for a fuel tank and the like comprising a body member having a depending peripheral flange to provide a hand grip portion and means to prevent access to the space within said body member When the same is applied to the fuel tank and the like, said body member being provided with an inner tubular portion concentric with said flange, a sleeve swiveled on said tubular portion for rotation about the longitudinal axis of said flange, said sleeve having a radially extending arm carried adjacent its lower end and adapted to engage an inturned cammed flange of the fuel tank filling pipe and the like, a gasket carried by said tubular portion above said arm to engage the top of said pipe and the like, and means to interlock said tubular member and sleeve comprising an oscillatable member carried by said tubular member and adapted to engage a lug on said sleeve, means to control the movement of said member comprising a permutation lock and a knob for operating said lock positioned on the exterior of said body member.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12 in which said oscillatable member comprises a spring pressed latch which is always operative to apply clockwise rotation to said sleeve and in which said means to control comprises a spring pressed bolt which is moved upon alignment of said tumblers to a position preventing movement of said latch whereby said latch is made operative to move said sleeve in a counter-clockwise direction.

14. Apparatus according to claim 12 in which said oscillatable member comprises a spring pressed latch which is always operative to apply clockwise rotation to said sleeve and in which said means to control comprises a spring pressed bolt which is moved upon alignment of said tumblers to a position preventing movement of said latch whereby said latch is made operative to move said sleeve in a counter-clockwise direction, and means on said sleeve engageable by said bolt to move said bolt to retracted position upon clockwise rotation of said body member relative to said sleeve.

15. Apparatus according to claim 12 in which said oscillatable member comprises a spring pressed latch which is always operative to apply clockwise rotation to said sleeve and in which said means to control comprises a spring pressed bolt which is moved upon alignment of said tumblers to a position preventing movement of said latch whereby said latch is made operative to move said sleeve in a counter-clockwise direction, means on said sleeve engageable by said bolt to move said bolt to retracted position upon clockwise rotation of said body member relative to said sleeve, and means operable upon retraction of said bolt to rotate one of said tumblers whereby said lock is automatically reset.

16. A closure cap for a fuel tank and the like comprising a body member having a depending peripheral flange to provide a hand gripportion 15 and means to prevent access to the space within said body when the cap is applied to a fuel tank and the like, a pair of radially extending arms carried by said body member within said flange and adapted to engage an inturned cammed flange on the fllling pipe or neck of said tank and the like, and means to secure said cap to said inturned flange thereby preventing unauthorized removal thereof comprising a permutation lock having a member movable upon a predetermined alignment of the parts thereof, said lock being provided with an operating means manually engageable exteriorly of said body member to effect the combination of the lock.

MORTIMER NUSBAUM. 

